The nail, screw or other fastener you choose is important because the fastener has a major impact on pallet or crate performance.
The following is a directory of leading suppliers of fasteners for the wooden pallet and container industry. Suppliers offer bulk and/or collated nails. Many also supply pneumatic nailing tools and provide services for maintaining and repairing pneumatic nail tools.
The guide is designed to help you identify fastener suppliers and learn about various product lines. Information was provided by suppliers or taken from their websites. Suppliers are listed in alphabetical order.
While pallet nails may all appear to be the same, there can be some significant differences in terms of quality and performance. Pallet Enterprise asked some leading suppliers their best advice when it comes to common mistakes that people make in selecting the right pallet nail or screw.
“Pallet manufacturers are more pressed than ever when it comes to tight margins and profitability,” noted Phil Burkhart, general manager of Nail Gun Depot. “With nails, for example, quality and choosing the correct fastener for your application can have significant impacts on total cost. Direct compatibility between your tools and fasteners for consistent performance and an understanding of the best available fastener for any given application is critical.”
“For example, emphasis on sharper points for drivability versus less aggressive points for less splitting and shiners, ring shank for softwood versus screw shank for hardwood, and proper head size, diameter and shank type for drivability and withdrawal,” Burkhart continued. “Always keep a keen eye on products coming to market that can boost productivity and profitability.”
Tammy Jameson, senior sales manager USA/Canada at Mid Continent Steel and Wire Corp, said, “The most common issue is using the wrong shank for the species of wood. As a general rule, ring shank is a better option for all softwoods and screw shank is best for hardwood. Diameter is more important than length for holding power. Ideally, the receiving member of wood requires 1-1/4 of fastener length.”
Quinn Downs, general manager for Viper, echoed these sentiments. He also pointed to some other top considerations that people need to make when it comes to fastener selection. He said, “Consistency and cleanliness have been the top factors when we evaluate bulk as well as collated nails.” That’s why you need to keep an eye on each load to ensure that nail quality remains consistent from load to load.
Some people are just looking for the cheapest nail. But most pallet failures occur at the connections. Chad Giese, national sales and products manager for Beck America, warned, “The biggest mistake is that they make their selection based solely on PRICE and don’t look at other important factors like withdrawal, shear, pull through, method of collation, etc. These decisions can cost them down the long and short road.”
Joan Montague, nail account manager at Viking Engineering, agreed that quality matters. She stated, “While lower-quality nails might seem cost-effective upfront due to their lower price, they end up costing more in the long run. Lower quality nails lead to more frequent equipment jams, requiring more downtime for maintenance and cleaning, which interrupts production and reduces overall throughput. This increased downtime not only slows down operations but also demands higher labor and maintenance costs.”
Viking recommends quality nails for the best performance in its popular nailing systems. Poor quality nails can reduce the lifespan of equipment. Montague added, “Moreover, the need for frequent cleaning and repairs to remove nail fragments puts additional strain on machinery, ultimately shortening equipment lifespan and driving up repair expenses. By investing in clean, strong high-quality nails, businesses can maintain steady production, reduce maintenance time, and enhance overall efficiency, resulting in substantial savings over time.”
So what makes a quality nail? Looking at bulk nails specifically, Montague noted that higher quality nails are typically stronger, with a higher carbon content, and cleaner, free of residue, than lower quality nails. Nail strength can actually be measured. Montague explained, “The higher the carbon content of a nail the greater the strength of the nail. Stronger nails can withstand more pressure before they bend or break. MIBANT scores help determine the strength of a nail.”
You will want to consider nail diameter as well as nail length when selecting the right fastener. Daphne Liang, sales manager for Harvest Pallet Machinery System Co., stated, “When it comes to nail diameter, thicker nails provide better holding strength. For nail length, the length should match the material, ensuring effective penetration and sufficient holding power.”
Liang also pointed to some other key factors to consider for bulk nails. She said that coatings can affect performance. For example, coated nails offer better corrosion resistance and are easier to drive into materials. Elaine Whitcraft of New Supplies Company noted for bulk nails, “Consistency of quality and absence of debris. Often time debris in the box interferes with the bulk nail machine causing various issues including but not limited to loading, jamming and shortness of life of nailing machine parts.”
When it comes to pneumatic hand tools, your nail selection matters too. Whitcraft suggested, “Utilizing an oversized nail for application therefore needing a heavier tool that may slow production and cause increased risk of injury of workers.”
Not all nails are created equal, and you will want to specify the right nail to ensure quality production. The good news is that these suppliers can all provide expert consulting on how their product lines can fit your applications.
BECK America
Phone: (800) 239-8665
E-mail: Info@beck-america.com
Type of Fasteners: Collated nails and screws. Duplex nails and SCRAIL®. Also offers its unique LignoLoc® collated wooden nails.
Sizes: Pallet nails .131-inch in diameter. Lengths include 3-inch and 3.5-inch
Sales Region: Nationwide
Product Description: BECK America offers a complete selection of tools and fasteners including fine threads for best withdrawal values and coarse threads for superior removal performance. SCRAIL® nail screw fasteners can be used for making wood containers. They have a reputation for fast driving into boards and have 80% of the holding power of traditional screws.
DNA Merchandise
Contact: Ruth Navarrete
Phone: (310) 767-4070
E-mail: customerservice@dnamerchandise.com
Type of Fasteners: Wire collated nails, screw, ring and smooth shank, jumbo (high load) wire coil, standard wire coil, galvanized and ungalvanized, staples, collated screws, plastic strip framing nails, crown staples.
Sizes: Offers a wide range of sizes, shanks and points, and custom sizes, primarily 2″ x 0.099″ screw shank.
Sales Region: Nationwide
Product Description: Established in 1984, family-owned DNA Merchandise has valued its dedicated customers for decades. The company has made it a priority to provide for the hard-working small businesses that are the backbone of the economy. It has worked successfully for many years with a wide range of companies. Call, email, text, or visit the website and see what DNA can do for you. All inquiries, big or small, are welcome!
Legacy Fasteners
Contact: Marsha Libla
Phone: (573) 785-0521
Fax: (573) 712-2936
E-mail: marsha@legacyfasteners.com
Type of Fasteners: Machine quality bulk pallet nails, specialty bulk nails, wire coil pallet nails (small and large coil), and plastic strip nails.
Sizes: Offers a wide range of sizes, shanks and points
Sales Region: Nationwide
Product Description: Legacy Fasteners is committed to providing “Made in U.S.A.” products and keeping the Libla family tradition of offering high quality fasteners and excellent customer service. Legacy Fasteners provides top-quality products available to customers so they can get the job done. The company also distributes staples, other fasteners and pneumatic tools to support fastener programs. Tool lending programs are available in some areas.
Mid-Continent Steel & Wire
Contact: Tammy Jameson
E-mail: tjameson@deacerousa.com
Contact: Chuck McClure
E-mail: chuck@deacerousa.com
Phone: (800) TOP-NAIL (867-6245),
(573) 778-1211 extension, 124
Fax: (573) 778-3211
Type of Fasteners: wire coil, plastic strip, paper tape, hand drive, machine quality bulk pallet nails, wire coil pallet nails, large-coil collated pallet nails, staples, other wood-to-wood fasteners
Sizes: Widest variety in the market, custom sizes available
Sales Region: North America
Product Description: Mid-Continent Steel & Wire is the home of MAGNUM® fasteners and pneumatic tools. Celebrating over 35 years manufacturing fasteners for the construction and industrial markets, Mid-Continent and MAGNUM are synonymous with quality. Mid-Continent manufactures and stocks a complete assortment of machine quality bulk pallet nails, collated nails, staples, screws and hand-drive bulk nails. MAGNUM fasteners meet and exceed stringent building codes and industry standards. Fasteners are made in the U.S. with North American raw materials. Mid-Continent is one of the largest nail manufacturers in the world. From on-site repair and delivery to its MAGNUM Reload program, they offer multiple service solutions to meet your pallet, crating, industrial wood manufacturing or residential construction needs. Committed to creating value for customers and end-users alike and taking pride in ensuring a Superior Customer Experience. MAGNUM for all your fastener needs! PDS FastenerSync™ license #1.
Michigan Fastener
Contact: Jon Will
Phone: (810) 728-4005
E-mail: michiganfastener@outlook.com
Type of Fasteners: Machine grade, loose bulk nails and collated nails
Sizes, diameters: .086-.099-.113-.120- and custom sizes
Sales Region: Nationwide
Product Description: Michigan Fastener provides American-made fasteners including screw, ring and smooth. It is a family-owned and operated manufacturer of fasteners in North Branch, Michigan. The owner has nearly 20 years of experience creating quality products for some of our nation’s largest distributors and production companies. Michigan Fastener uses quality steel forged in the United States. The company prides itself on being unique in the industry, proving you can put people over profit. Michigan Fastener now offers pneumatic hand tools to customers as well as tooling for automated pallet assembly machines. The company just expanded its manufacturing capacity and can now produce hi-load coils, small coils, clinch point nails, no point, blunt diamond point, extra-long diamond point, HDG bulk and more.
Nail Gun Depot
Phone: (888) 720-7892
E-mail: sales@nailgundepot.com
Type of Fasteners: collated nails, bulk nails, collated screws, bulk screws, ballistic fasteners, staples, hog-rings, high load nails, clinch nails, duplex nails
Sizes: Pallet nails, jumbo nails, fine wire staples, heavy gauge staples, 1/4-inch to 6-1/4-inches
Sales Region: North America, Global
Product Description: NailGunDepot.com launched in 2000 to supply the growing demand for internet-sourced collated fastening products. Nail Gun Depot remains a leading online supplier, offering world-class fastening products and support to pallet shops of all sizes, on a global scale. Originating in Cincinnati, Nail Gun Depot works with distribution centers strategically located across the U.S. to ensure easy, fast fulfillment from urban centers to rural communities. With a commitment to customer service, including dedicated account support, bin repair programs, and volume driven incentives, Nail Gun Depot’s skilled support staff strives to offer the most efficient and competitive fastening solutions.
New Supplies Co.
Contact: Mike Aurelio
Phone: (219) 595-5299
Fax: (219) 595-5325
E-mail: mike@newsupplies.net
Type of Fasteners: Wire collated nails, screw, ring and smooth shank, large wire coil, standard wire coil, galvanized and ungalvanized, staples, collated screws, staples
Product Description: New Supplies Co. has been in business for 50 years, specializing in nails and staples. It is a full-service supplier of collated fasteners and tools. It also offers expertise in automated nailing systems, including Woodpecker nailing machines. Full-service programs with loan tools and service are available throughout the Midwest.
Pneufast Co.
Phone: (847) 866-8787
Fax: (847) 866-8196
Type of Fasteners: Bulk nails, screw or ring shank
Sizes, Diameters: 1-5/8-inch x .113, 1-¾-inch x .113, 2-inch x .113, 2-¼-inch x .113. Head diameter: 0.28. Thread diameter: 0.128. Point style: NP
Product Description: Pneufast manufactures bulk pallet nails to NWPCA standards. The company began making bulk nails to supply its pallet division, which uses Viking machines to assemble pallets. Pneufast invested millions of dollars in automated machinery to produce bulk pallet nails. Pneufast bulk nails exceed ASTM F1667 bend yield 100,000 PSI minimum. One price regardless of nail size. No long lead times.
Universal Fastener Outsourcing
Contact: Jim Boyd
Phone: (800) 352-0028
E-mail: JBoyd@911-nails.com
Type of Fasteners: UFO Ballistic Nailscrews, UFO PneuScrews, and other collated and bulk fastener products as well as special pneumatic tools.
Sizes: UFO Ballistic Nailscrews for pallets and containers ranging from 2-¼ to 3-½ inches length and 0.113 to 0.131 inches diameter.
Sales Region: U.S. and Canada
Product Description: Universal Fastener Outsourcing offers a patented screw that drives with a nailer you already own. Virginia Tech testing reports are available online; it was ranked at the highest level with a multi-use – the only screws to pass all this testing. These are suitable for many applications. They are as fast as nails but with all the advantages of screws. The time savings versus regular screws are huge and will be more than the cost of the fasteners. Many sizes available, from 1-¼-inch to 4 inches. Contact Sherry for a free sample, Sherry@NailScrews.com or call the number above.
Viking Engineering & Development
Contact: Joan Montague, Kari Davis
Phone: (763) 586-1210, (763) 586-1224
Fax: (763) 571-7379
E-mail: JoanM@VikingEng.com
Type of Fasteners: Bulk and collated nails for pallet and container assembly.
Sizes: Common and specialty nails for all production needs.
Sales Region: North America
Product Description: Viking bulk nails are made with C1042 high carbon wire rod, making them extremely strong with very high carbon content. There is only one true Viking nail; manufactured by Viking’s 30+ year partner using an exclusive recipe and cleaning process. Viking bulk nails are guaranteed to run trouble free in your Viking nailing machine. Viking bulk nails can be run in any pallet assembly system. Viking also provides collated nails for use in pneumatic machines or hand building operations. Viking nails can be ordered by direct container shipment or from one of Viking seven strategically located warehouses throughout the United States.
Viper Industrial Products
www.viperindustrialproducts.com
Phone: (501) 679-6814
E-mail: qdowns@viper-us.com
Type of Fasteners: collated nails, bulk nails, collated screws, bulk screws, ballistic fasteners, staples, hog-rings, clips, high load nails
Sizes: Pallet nails, fine wire staples, heavy gauge staples, ¼-inch-5 inches
Sales Region: North America
Product Description: Viper Industrial Products is a nationwide distributor of industrial fasteners and accessories in the pallet, crating, and manufacturing markets. Its strong vendor partnerships and commitment to on-hand supply enable pallet customers to deliver products on time.
